The HTC Thunderbolt is almost here, but if you were planning on heading to your local Verizon store on launch day to pick one up you’ll need to revise your trip details. Best Buy has announced that they will be the exclusive retail partner for the HTC Thunderbolt just as they were for the White HTC EVO 4G and the recently released Nexus S.

Best Buy’s press release makes no indication as to how long they will be the exclusive retail partner for the HTC Thunderbolt, but I guess we can all use this opportunity to take advantage of Best Buy’s new Buy Back Program. But if you’re not into the whole brick and mortar thing, you’ll still be able to purchase the HTC Thunderbolt through Amazon and other online retailers once the Thunderbolt launched on February 14th.

Best Buy® Announces National Retail Exclusive and Pre-Sale Availability of HTC ThunderBolt

HTC ThunderBolt is the nation’s first 4G LTE smart phone

MINNEAPOLIS—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Best Buy today announced the immediate pre-sale availability of the HTC ThunderBolt at Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile standalone stores nationwide. The HTC ThunderBolt, which will launch in mid-February as a national retail exclusive for Best Buy, is the first smart phone on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network.

“The HTC ThunderBolt is a groundbreaking smart phone and Best Buy couldn’t think of a better way to kick off 2011 than by offering it as a national retail exclusive to our customers,” said Scott Anderson, head of merchandising for Best Buy Mobile. “We have worked hard to provide our customers with a great selection of smart phones which now includes the HTC ThunderBolt, both versions of the iPhone 4, Samsung Nexus S, HTC EVOâ„¢ 4G and many more options.”

The HTC ThunderBolt offers a rich web browsing experience and the ability for users to easily generate and share their own video experiences. Other key features of the HTC ThunderBolt include the ability to:

Download a song in less than 4 seconds

Download 20 photos in a minute

Stream TV shows from your computer

Best Buy Mobile offers an array of services aimed at improving customers’ experience, including Walk Out Working, Upgrade Checker, Happy24, Buy Back and a full array of accessories for customers to protect and personalize their device.

This exclusivity does not include online right? If so then Amazon and whoever else will carry it online will get a huge boost since I’d imagine most people buy phones either from carrier stores or online.